EXTREME ALTITUDE: The Worlds Greatest Mountains

Mountaineering, the art of climbing mountains for pleasure was born in the summer of 1786, when Jacques Balmat and Michel-Gabriel Paccard reached the summit of Mont Blanc.Over the 200 or so years that separate us from Paccard and Balmat's alpenstocks and scientific instruments, many people have wondered whether the ascent of the two brave Chamonix men marks the true birth of mountaineering.However, man did not discover the mountains for recreation. Indeed, man has frequented the Alps since prehistoric times, settling in the high valleys as soon as the retreat of the glaciers had allowed the pastures and woodlands to reach the higher altitudes. This is also the case for other mountain ranges. As soon as the Earth's climate allowed, the mountain dwellers of Asia started to till the soil of the high valleys and graze their livestock at altitudes up to 16,500 feet, crossing the passes of the Himalaya and Karakorum Mountains to enable commerce between the cities of India and China.The scenario was very similar on the other side of the world, in the Andes and the other South American ranges. Although roads, ski runs and antennas continue to advance, today almost all of the world's highest and most beautiful peaks are protected. While Mont Blanc remains a surprising exception, magnificent national parks protect Annapurna, Everest, Kilimanjaro, McKinley, Cerro Torre and Mount Cook. These areas serve to preserve purity, adventure and mystery, just a few hours' journey away from our crowded cities. The protection of the wild mountains is important for all the world's inhabitants.